For the Glory of Icathia: Escape From Skorzeny Manor [Completed] (Inactive)

Game Master Signore di Fortuna

Mortimus tosses the goblin the crust of bread and offers the bugbear the roasted chickens.

”A town of common folk”, the disfigured priest says almost disappointedly. ”We’re not far from my home. I intend to find a vessel not far from here to return me there. There is the small matter of coin though…”

"Well, that's your problem, isn't it? As far as I see it, I can leave whenever I want."

Mortimus frowns, recalling the bugbear’s display the previous night.

”Perhaps whatever route I take to earn some coin could include you?” he mumbles aloud. ”Your strength could prove useful.”

"I don't need coin, what I want I take," the bugbear says, Snot scrabbling beneath his large foot. "But...you might help me get something I want in a 'less-destructive' way."

"And what is that?"

"The gnome."

Mortimus shudders slightly.

"Why her? There's a whole town here. You could have anyone."

"Because I like things that don't come easy. I could have a peasant, but that's no fun, is it? Now she's fawning over that half-breed idiot. Even more reason for me to take her. Ixen said she was soft," Grawfir said, licking his lips. "I'd like to find out how soft."

Mortimus as he considers the suffering such a creature would visit in the throes of lust. To experience such power...

"She will not come willingly. She may be... damaged on her delivery."

"As long as the important parts are intact."

Mortimus nods in understanding and spins to return to the town, searching for Drago and the halfling.

"Alexandros? I'm afraid not. My name is Drago and Yrlhea. We've come to speak to you about the Shadow Keep."

"Hmm, you look quite like him, my mistake," the man says. "Please come inside. The Shadowed Keep is not something many people care to hear about."

You walk into the small but quaint home. A collection of weapons and armor decorates most of the place. The man leads you into a small parlor with several comfortable chairs.

"My name is Pettin, Augustus Pettin. I am the mayor of Arden and, as you've seen, a collector of Valentin Ironwolf's old possessions."

Valentin wouldn't happen to be your take on Vlad Tepes, would he?

"Valentin Ironwolf? I'm not familiar with that name." Drago said as he looked around the room, "Quite a collection. Was it all actually his, or is it one of those 'him and his men' kind of collections?"

No, I'm not that clever.

"He used to be an adventurer several decades ago. Made his wealth that way. Used his money to buy build the Keep on the bluff and tried to clear out the monsters in the area," Pettin explains. "Well, the orcs and goblins rose up against him, having a common. Well...the Keep is also referred to as Valentin's Folly for a reason. These things I have were left from his estate, as well as the knocker on my door."

"I see. If I may ask, why do you need someone to look at the Keep?"

"Well, there are two reasons," Pettin says. "The first is understandably the safety of the townsfolk and travelers. Several adventurers have already lost their lives to the Keep and the evils within. The second is a selfish desire of mine. There are two maps within the Keep that reveal the location of the lost dwarven hold of Hadramkath. I want them."

Drago looked at Pettin slightly suspiciously, "Why do you need maps to a dwarven stronghold? What's there that you want?"

I figure at this point, he's a little suspicious about ulterior motives.

"I have several friends who are scholars willing to trade me a few of Valentin's old personal effects for these maps. I'm a bit too old for adventuring myself and care little for such things anyway."

"So who is this Alexandros you confused Drago for?" Ylrhea asks.

"Ah, he was a traveler who came a few days ago with some others. He was curious about the Keep. Had a strange mask with him," Petting recalls.

"Do you know anything else about him?"

"No, not much. He didn't seem interested in the reward. Said his last name was Skorzeny though."

The gnome blanches a bit at the mention of the name. "So if he's not here for the reward, what is he here for?"

"We had an earthquake about six months ago, that's when the trouble really started. He said he was interested in researching the earthquake's effects."

Should I assume Mortimus finds Drago after this meeting?

To keep his eyes from going wide, Drago clenched his fists so hard, he almost drew blood. Did she have another son? He wondered. Snapping out of his revery, the Damphir asked, "What sort of things have been happening?"

@Mortimus: Yes, you'll run into him as soon as he's done with mayor.

"The monsters have become more agitated, as well as bandits becoming more bold by the day," Pettin explains. "One adventurer, lucky enough to escape with his life from the keep, has said that the dead are returning to life in the caves below the keep. He fought his own companions before fleeing from this region."

Drago thinks for a second, "Seems fair enough. How much does the job pay?"

"It'd be five hundred gold if you can bring back both of those maps and reduce the monster population a bit. At least, take care of the bandits for sure," Pettin says. He reaches for a stack of papers next to him.

"Here," he says, handing Drago a piece of paper. "This might help, I hope."

I'll place the map link on the campaign tab. You shouldn't have to reference it often.

Looking over the map a moment, Drago said, "Alright, we'll do it."

"Good," Pettin says, rising from his chair. "May the gods watch over you."

Ylrhea stands up to take Drago's hand and the two of them depart from the mayor's house. As you leave, you see Mortimus walking up the path to meet you.

"Where have you been?" Drago asked Mortimus.

"Eating. And I brought food to the others", Mortimus explains plainly.

"What did you learn?"

"A couple of possibly disturbing things. One of which is that we be dealing with a fort full of undead. Care to help clear it out? There's an equal share of five hundred gold in it for you." The Dhampir replied.

Mortimus nods, ”Undead I can help with – for a share of the coin. I’ll be needing it to get home…”

”I imagine the bugbear will be wanting his own share as well.”

Drago was a little apprehensive about letting the Bugbear coming along, but his strength would a useful asset. As long as he stayed in front of the Dhampir, there shouldn't be a problem. "He'll have to earn it." He said coldly.

"Why not spend the night here and leave for the keep in the morning?" the gnome suggests. "We've traveled hard over the last couple of days and a nice bed would be preferable to a cold stone floor. Besides, some of the townspeople might know something, so it wouldn't hurt to ask."

"Hmm, that would be a welcome change, wouldn't it. Care to see those arrangements?" Drago asked Ylrhea.

"Sure, I'll take care of it," the gnome says softly. "I'll see if I can find anything out too. I guess you'll go with Mortimus to discuss this with the others?"

Ylrhea's Diplomacy (Gather Info): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Mortimus nods, "We will meet tonight then."

The gnome departs, leaving you two to your own devices.

"So..... how did you end up in my Mother's clutches?" Drago asked the Cleric.

”I came to her to grow my knowledge of the dark arts”, the disfigured man explains. ”Her talent with necromancy is impressive but she wields it like a bludgeon – all force with little finesse. When I became dissatisfied and determined that I would learn nothing from her, I took my leave.”

”She doesn’t handle rejection well…”

"You have no idea." The Damphir muttered. "Heh, she may wield it like a bludgeon, but believe me, her results are........efficient."

You walk back to the brush where Grawfir is sitting. The goblin, Snot, has been tied to a tree with some rope, reminding you of a dog. Mortimus' undead servants stand away from the bugbear.

"Y' need to feed them more often. I don't like the way they're lookin' at me," the bugbear says, tossing chicken bones at the goblin. "So what's the plan?"

"We've a Fortress to clear and some maps to locate." Drago said bluntly.

"So what's that worth?"

”Your help would be appreciated”, Mortimus adds. ”When it’s done all will be paid what they’re due”, he says with a meaningful glance at the bugbear.

"Heh, I thought about it and a little coin wouldn't hurt," Grawfir says, tossing the last chicken bone at Snot. "Who knows? I may want to become an upstanding bugbear someday."

I am altering the deal, pray I do not alter it any further.

Yes, my Lord.

Drago looked cautiously at the Cleric. What is he planning, and how does it involve the bugbear?

"So, we leavin' now or you gonna spend a night in that town?" Grawfir asks.

"I believe the halfling wants to spend the night here and head out in the morning. Can you entertain yourself out here or will you want to enter the town?"

"Pfft. I'll be fine out here. What about your buddies? You gonna make me watch 'em?"

Shaken out of his thoughts, Drago responded, "I thought Mortimus, Ylrhea, and I might stay at the inn. Is there anyway we can pass you off as not a Bugbear?"